La Sierra University celebrates 5-year AAA accreditation

 

As La Sierra University prepared to welcome students to campus this fall, it celebrated a key milestone reached during the latter portion of the past academic year—the university received a full five-year period of accreditation from the Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist Schools, Colleges and Universities (AAA). The accreditation period ends Dec. 31, 2021.

La Sierra University Vice President for Student Life Yami Bazan (right) baptizes student Johannah Macy, one of 11 to commit their lives to Christ during the university’s annual June baptism last spring. The university was commended in a recent Adventist Accrediting Association report for demonstrating God’s love and placing Adventist beliefs at the forefront of instruction. (Photo: Natan Vigna)
La Sierra University Vice President for Student Life Yami Bazan (right) baptizes student Johannah Macy, one of 11 to commit their lives to Christ during the university’s annual June baptism last spring. The university was commended in a recent Adventist Accrediting Association report for demonstrating God’s love and placing Adventist beliefs at the forefront of instruction. (Photo: Natan Vigna)

The university credited this significant achievement to the result of the diligent efforts of numerous faculty, staff, and students over many months. 

AAA rendered its decision on April 5, 2017. In its official notification letter, AAA informed the university that an interim team will visit the campus midway through the accreditation period to assess progress made in fulfilling the recommendations of the AAA site visitation team that visited the campus this past February.

The team’s report contained 42 commendations and 11 recommendations related to the following evaluation areas:

• Mission and Identity

• Spiritual Development, Witness and Service

• Governance, Organization, Administration

• Programs of Study

• Faculty and Staff

• Educational Context

• Pastoral and Theological Education

Commendations included recognition of the “Board of Trustees for its commitment to [ensuring] that the Seventh-day Adventist mission is sustained through its careful policy formulation [and] self-evaluation.” 

The visiting team commended university administration, faculty, staff and students for engaging in “creative and vibrant ways” of “demonstrating God’s love in their unique and diverse environment.” And they lauded administration and faculty for placing “Adventist beliefs and practices at the forefront of instruction for all students” and for “introducing students to the joy of lifelong service to others as part of a balanced development of the whole person.” Examples of this, among others, include the biology department’s introducing the knowledge of science and an understanding of origins/creation from an Adventist perspective; [and] the English department’s discussions of the Seventh-day Adventist worldview as it relates to literature.”

Among specific commendations, the Service Learning Office was recognized for a “rigorous” program involving 52 service-learning courses and 24,414 service hours carried out in 2015.  The university was also applauded for continuing the Zapara School of Business-based Enactus economic empowerment program “which has enhanced the profile of the University and the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” the report states.

The report specifically cited the visiting team’s observations that of the 27 recommendations made as a result of the 2010 accreditation visit, 24 had been fulfilled, and three partially fulfilled. “It is evident to the visiting committee that good progress has been made in addressing recommendations in a number of areas, and the committee applauds these efforts and accomplishments,” it states.

Specific acknowledgements of fulfilled prior recommendations include the team’s recognition of the Chaplain’s Office, the HMS Richards Divinity School, and the Division of General Education for the launch of the Religious Life Insight Assessment Survey (RLIAS) which documents the positive spiritual growth in students’ lives and understanding of the SDA mission and message.

La Sierra University expressed its deep gratitude to the members of the AAA site visitation team for their significant contribution and dedication to the work of ensuring excellence in Adventist education. Further information about AAA accreditation processes is available at http://adventistaccreditingassociation.org.

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